Green Roof Project - Australian International School Hong Kong

October 2011 | Volume 9
AISHK’s
Green Roof Project
Green Living and the many
aspects associated with it are
set to have a stronger impact on
students’ lives at AISHK with the
launch of the school’s proposed
Green Roof Project.
P
The Dreamtime Garden
The Outback Kitchen
lans for the AISHK Green Roof, to
The Shed
The Green Patio
be located at roof level above the 9th
floor administration office, will include Roof Plan
a living, breathing, outdoor green
space featuring native Australian flora that serves as a platform for learning and where students will find out all about the environment,
environmental issues, environmental technology and sustainable development. The Roof will be comprised of four sections – The Shed,
The Dreamtime Garden, The Outback Kitchen and Green Patio. The Shed will have seating for a full class and feature retractable cloth
shading and two corrugated water tanks, just like a real Aussie cattle station. The Dreamtime Garden will have a rockery, lush greenery,
stepping stones, art installations and outdoor seating, while the Outback Kitchen and Green Patio at the ‘technology’ end of the roof will
offer a second classroom space where students will learn about green technologies. The Roof will also feature working models of solar
power and wind power electricity generating systems and double as an outdoor kitchen and barbecue area that can host outdoor events
and social functions.
This multi-purpose addition is part of the school’s evolution into an environmentally responsible institution delivering quality education.
The project has the support of AISHK’s recently formed Environmental Committee, which is responsible for implementing the AISHK
Sustainability Policy which focuses on the efficient use of energy and other environmentally friendly practices and sets targets and
strategies for the school to lead by example in the sustainable use of energy, waste management and sustainable purchasing.
Students, parents and supporters of the school can expect to hear more news about the Green Roof project in upcoming publications and
in our promotions for fundraising events. We hope that all of the school’s stakeholders will show their support to help make this important
addition to the school a reality.
Green Energy
The Roof Garden will feature
two renewable energy
systems that demonstrate
alternative energy sources.
Students will learn how
these and other forms of
renewable energy can be
used to power everyday
equipment like lights and
water pumps.
The Water Tanks
(Solar Powered Water Irrigation System)
Two water tanks located adjacent to The Shed
will form part of a solar powered irrigation
system that will water the Dreamtime Garden.
The Wind Turbine
(Wind Powered LED Lighting)
A visually pleasing wind turbine array, designed
to resemble one of Australia’s native plants, the
Wattle, will utilise the wind power to generate
electricity to power a bank of LED lights.
View of The Shed
Performing Arts Workshops
with MiG Ayesa
T
erm 3 offered up a special treat for AISHK
students studying performing arts, with a
visit by one of Australia’s biggest performing
artists and stage superstars, MiG Ayesa.
MiG, who was in town to headline AISHK’s “A Night
on Broadway” black tie Ball (see Community Pages
for more) also spent a week at the school, conducting
workshops and rehearsals with students; teaching
them about performing and offering insights into life
as a performing artist.
The week-long series of sessions provided students
with an invaluable opportunity to work with an
experienced professional and bonafide superstar,
improve their onstage performance and boost their
confidence. The results were clearly seen during “A
Night on Broadway”, where both the Primary and Secondary choirs and ensembles and featured AISHK vocalist, Allira
Wilson (AISHK’s Head Girl in 2010), wowed the audience with their dance moves and soaring vocals. The school would
like to thank MiG and the other guest artists, Monique Montez and Nigel Turner-Carroll, who took part, for their invaluable
contribution to the education of AISHK students. We look forward to welcoming more guest professionals to the school
for future productions.
1
P R I M A RY
Message from the Principal, Primary
T
erms 2 and 3 of the school
year are always filled with
solid teaching and there are
always plenty of events and activities
packed in and around all the learning
that takes place.
Seventeen new students
commenced primary schooling at
AISHK at the beginning of Term 2.
The Parent Association held a Leonie Drew
special Mother’s Day lunch this year.
This was such a success that it will probably become a regular
event on the school calendar. The Early Childhood classes had
their Swimming Carnival in the Aquatic Centre and the Year 3s
went to camp at Ma On Shan for 2 nights. In Week 4 of Term 2,
Year 3 and 5 students took part in NAPLAN assessments over
three days.
Book
Week
I
n Term 3 the focus in Primary Division was on
promoting, reading and sharing good quality
books. This was guided by the books
and literature found in the Australian
Children’s Book Council Short Lists. The
climax of this period was the announcement
of the winning books and the annual Early
Childhood Assembly and Assembly Book
Parade. Many students and staff participated
on that day by bringing their favourite book to
school and dressing up as a character from
the book. The school was transformed into a
wonderful sea of characters as students and
teachers got into the theme of the event: One
World, Many Stories.
Thank you to the parents, staff and students who helped make the day a great success.
Just prior to the long weekend in June the LEAP (Life in
Education) van returned to our school. This mobile classroom,
which is equipped with multimedia technology, presents
sequential year level programs to help students learn about their
bodies. Class teachers incorporate the program into their health
curriculum for further exploration. Each of our classes attended
a session inside the LEAP van.
Peer Support sessions commenced for all primary (P-6). This
year activities focused on the You Can Do It program. Students
looked at what success is and the notion that everyone can
be happy. Also during Term 2, the Performing Arts Department
held two evenings for us to enjoy; one for Drama and the other
Music. Many of our Primary students had the opportunity to
display their talents.
Peer
Support
D
uring Term 2 all students
in Primary participated in
the school’s Peer Support
Program, which assigns Year
6 students as leaders of small groups
of younger students. The Year 6s led
each group through a program covering
social skills. The Peer Support program
started off with a training day to get
everyone ready for the actual lessons.
Finally in the last week of the term and just before the July
holidays, there was the student-led Conference Day, where
primary students had an opportunity to show how much they
had learnt and how much progress they had made during the
term to proud mums and dads and set some goals for the
remainder of the year.
Term 3 started in the heat and humidity of August, when all
other Hong Kong schools are still on school holidays. Primary
enrolments grew and 26 new children joined the school’s
Primary Division. Year 5 and 6 swimming lessons commenced
and Year 2 celebrated the 100th Day of school. Book Week was
a focus and the Early Childhood classes held their annual Book
Week Parade. Chinese Week, held in the middle of the term,
was also a colourful highlight and coincided this year with the
Mid-Autumn Festival. It was a week filled with celebrations of
Chinese culture and language; including shopping and games
played using Putonghua organised by many of our Chinese
mothers.
Waratah House held its mufti day in Term 3 in a sea of red and
there was an information evening for parents explaining the
process and procedures of Pastoral Care and Student Welfare
throughout the school, from Reception to Year 12.
Around mid-term the Early Childhood and Primary Music
Recitals were held and we were entertained by an amazing
array of talented musicians who had auditioned for the privilege
of being a part of the program. The annual Sports Awards
ceremony was held at Hong Kong Baptist University, which
enabled us to acknowledge the sporting achievements of our
teams and individual players from Year 5 to Year 12.
Year 3 and 4 swimming lessons got underway in the last weeks
of Term 3 with plans to continue in early Term 4. Jacaranda
House held its mufti day and Primary classes competed for this
year’s Spelling Cup competition. In the final days of the term the
Public Speaking competition was supposed to be held but was
cancelled due to typhoon Nesat, so we will need to wait until
next term for our Year 5 and 6 speech finalists. The Year 5 and
6 students were poised and confident, demonstrating expert
oratory skills. It was a fabulous way to end the term.
Leonie Drew
Co-Head of School, Principal Primary
2
Activities that took place on the training
day included learning about how
to collaborate and find solutions by
working as a team.
Groups were presented with a variety of challenges like working out how their group would be able to
cross a river using only newspapers as stepping stones.
“The teachers talked to students about their experiences and how to lead a group of children so that the
group can share ideas and learn together,” says student Isla Hutching-Bryant. “Programs like these can
help us become better people.”
PREP Unit of Inquiry:
Structures
I
n Term 3 Prep students were involved in a fabulous Unit of Inquiry which focused
on man-made structures and how they vary around the world. Students had the
opportunity to observe, explore and respond to the built environment around
them, and what better place could there be to do this than Hong Kong! In
order to investigate the city’s structures more closely, students were taken
on an excursion to Tsim Sha Tsui to sketch buildings. These budding artists,
carefully observed and then sketched Hong Kong’s impressive skyline as
viewed from the harbourfront and captured the variety of shapes and sizes
of the structures they saw in their works. After this, it was time to hop on
the Star Ferry for a trip to the other side of the harbour to get a different
view of the city. They were also keen to observe the International
Commerce Centre tower as it is now the tallest building in Hong Kong!
Students also discussed how the use of a place or space depends on
people’s needs. To further develop their understanding of this concept
they visited a local Chinese temple with students from Year 6. Being
such keen artists in Prep, our group also took on the challenge of
sketching the temple. Students enjoyed their investigation into the impact the design of structures has on the
environment and the different qualities that make each structure unique.
Up Close & Personal
Learning
with Mini Beasts
About Energy
I
t seems as though there is no end to the fascination
young children have with all creatures great and
small, if you take our Year One group as a guide.
Inspired by what they had learnt about tiny creatures
in the classroom, many Year 1 students have since been
spotted recently exploring the schools’ gardens and
playgrounds in search of literally anything that moves.
S
cience Week was a great opportunity for the Year 5’s to experiment
with and learn about a number of different types of energy. Students
looked at creating electricity using Wind, Solar, Hydro and Geothermal
technologies.
While we’re not likely to be
swapping our current electricity
supplier for one of these systems
any time soon at AISHK, students
did get an understanding of how
difficult electricity is to create using
these methods, and see how
real alternative power generating
systems work.
Parents and teachers have been kept up to date
by students on the number of snails, dragonflies,
ladybirds, butterflies, caterpillars and other creepy
crawlies moving around the grounds, while students’
fascination with the small and the wiggly only increases
with every ‘new’ find.
Year One’s recent visit to Sai Kung Lion Park Education Centre gave these budding entomologists
an even greater ‘buzz’ and has only made these students even more enthusiastic about this new
area of discovery.
100
Days
of School Celebration
S
t u d e n t s i n Ye a r 2
celebrated their 100 th day of school this year
in grand style. Arriving in t-shirts decorated
with 100 items, students took part in an array
of cross-curricula activities that were related to the
number 100. They read books, threaded beads,
wrote poetry, researched life 100 years ago and
made predictions about what life would be like in
another 100 years. They created self portraits of
themselves at the age of 100 and celebrated with
100 cupcakes and a party with the 100 students
in Year 2. To end the day students were given
the challenge of sitting perfectly still and quiet
for 100 seconds. A fun day was had by all!
Students saw how windmills are
used in the field to power small
lights bulbs. They tested their engineering skills by building solar panelled cars.
They also looked at Geothermal geysers and steam systems and learnt about
Hydroelectric power.
National
Science Week
F
rom 22 to 26 August was National
Science Week in Australia. Year 6
celebrated the week by taking part
in four science activities. In the four
activities students learnt how to identify different
powders, make glue, make bath salt crystals
and make Ooblec, a substance which is both
liquid and solid and made using cornstarch and
boiling water after which students can add food
colouring to make it colourful.
“Science Week was great fun,” says student
Chelsea Chan. “Personally, I love science. All
the experiments and the evaluating is fun. I think it is great that we celebrated this
week at our school.”
A
s part of the Personal
Development and
Health Program taught
to Primary Division
students, Year 3s have been
learning about Emotional
Resilience.
Since everyone is occasionally
faced with demands, challenges,
frustrations, difficulties or
setbacks in life, it is vital that they
are taught a range of resilience
skills to help them cope and get
through these issues.
The program being taught focuses on a variety of skills that hopefully enable students to manage
their emotions and cope with the stresses and strains of growing up. Some of the stresses and
strains identified by students included: everyday occurrences associated with not achieving one’s
goals, rejection by their peers, frustrating or challenging schoolwork and being treated unfairly or
disrespectfully by others.
Hopefully some of the lessons our Year 3 students took part in will better equip them to take greater
personal responsibility for their feelings and behaviours by recognising the role that their thinking
plays in a range of situations.
Students realised that it can be their own thinking that affects their emotions, not always the things
that happen to them.
Student Spotlight
Resilience
Ruby Dalmer
F
eeling terrified proved no barrier to Year 4 dancer, Ruby
Dalmer, recently when she won the award for ‘best
stage presence’ at Hong Kong’s Star Factor 2011 talent
competition.
Ruby choreographed the dance routine she performed, to
Florence and the Machine’s ‘Dog Days are Over’, before a full
crowd and a panel of three judges, at Chai Wan’s Y Theatre.
“I was so scared waiting in the wings, it was like
a huge weight lifted off me when I had finished.
But I loved doing my dance, and was so happy
to win a prize,” says Ruby.
Competing in the age 7-14 category, Ruby won
a trophy and $500.
“It was a great night and I loved hanging
out with the other singers, dancers and
musicians.”
Impressed with her moves, Face Productions,
the competition’s organisers, invited Ruby to audition for
its dance performance group which stages various events
throughout Hong Kong.
Visit to
The Bounty
I
n September, Year 4s visited the tall ship The Bounty
(Chinese name Chi Ming), as part of their inquiry unit
on the British colonisation of Australia. The students
were excited to see what an actual tall ship looked like,
after spending time making models of them, drawing them
and listening to stories about them. The ship is a 42-metre
replica of the original HMAV Bounty, which is well known
for the dramatic mutiny that occurred on board. This replica
Bounty was built in 1978 for the movie of the same name,
released in 1983 and featuring Mel Gibson and Anthony Hopkins. The ship was brought to Hong Kong in
2007. The students loved exploring below deck and were amazed to find it was so small. Here are some of
their thoughts about the ship:
It looked like a real pirate ship.
The berths were really cool because they were
wooden, but it would have been uncomfortable for
the people in the 18th century.
It was like being in the olden days. You
could experience what life was like.”
It was amazing how you could fit
46 people on this ship.
3
S E C O N DA RY
Message from the Principal, Secondary
I
t has certainly been a busy
period in Secondary Division
since our last edition of Lion
Rock. Indeed the past two terms
have seen secondary students
engaged in a wide variety
of events and passing key
milestones in our academic year.
E v e n t s i n Te r m 2 i n c l u d e d
s t u d e n t s i n Ye a r s 7 a n d 9
completing their NAPLAN testing, Phillip Waugh
results of which have recently
been forwarded to parents. Our Careers Evening was held
26 May at which many AISHK community members gave
generously of their own time to provide our students with
insights into their various working lives and professions. The
presentations and conversations that took place no doubt
prompted many of our students to do further research into
career pathways previously unknown to them. Our growing
School Alumni held a gathering at Darling Harbour, Sydney,
an event that rekindled many fond memories of times past
here in Hong Kong.
Mufti Day with Waratah House
T
his year Waratah House again “painted the school red” for its
Mufti Day, held on Wednesday 10 August. Red noses were the
fashion du jour in Primary Division, with all students asked to
wear the round, foam accessories to show support for the child
welfare scheme
in Nepal that
money was
being raised for
on the day.
Year 6 Waratah
students went
a step further,
dressing up
as clowns
as part of the fun. As usual, there was an array
of culinary delights on offer at recess and lunch.
Australian lolly bags proved as popular as ever and
a veritable truckload of pizzas was delivered to keep
everyone energised and happy. The secondary students
combined ice-cream with lemonade for a refreshing
concoction called The Spider. It was great to see so
many Waratah students getting into the spirit of the
day, especially the Year 12s, who worked tirelessly
despite their exams looming. Overall, $16,000 was
raised - an excellent effort and another example of
“responsible citizenship” from AISHK students.
Inter house sport focused on the Basketball competition
while various school representative sporting teams
participated in both Hong Kong and ACAMIS competitions
held locally and in mainland China.
A particular highlight occurred in June when our School
Rugby and Netball teams, accompanied by many of our
parents travelled to Dulwich School in Beijing, to participate
in the 2011 Invitational Competition. It is very pleasing to
report that our teams, as usual, shone both on and off the
field/court.
Also in June for the first time many of our fathers joined us
for the inaugural Father’s Day breakfast. This event was
greatly appreciated by both fathers and sons alike and one
which I am sure will be repeated again next year.
Mingled between these events were a variety of University
of NSW academic competitions, Year 11 Semester 1
Examinations, the Year 10 Profiling Day and various social
activities for different year levels.
Term 3 commenced with Parent Teacher interviews to
review student progress in Semester 1 and once again it
was very pleasing to hear the very positive comments from
both parents and teachers about the students in our care.
Year 12 moved towards the end of its academic program in
both the HSC and IB by completing Trial/Mock examinations
during August. Drama and Music students held public
performances of their work in preparation for the visit from
external examiners. Chinese Week was celebrated with
a variety of presentations and performances across the
school. Our Performing Arts students accompanied our
special guest MiG Ayesa at the AISHK Biennial Ball, and
our senior students took the chance to dress up for the
2011 Senior Formal which was held at the W hotel. Our
Secondary Swimming Carnival took place at Kowloon Tsai
Park and the Inter house Volleyball competition had many
of our students fully engaged during their lunchtimes. Year
10 continued their preparation for Work Placement, which
occurs later in the year.
Summer School
W
hat did you do this summer? Did you venture to foreign lands, while away your time watching
TV, on the internet or at the shopping mall, or meticulously explore the publishing credits of
your biology textbook? Well, a group of your Year 11 peers decided to live a life less ordinary
and explore a new frontier by going to Summer School.
This adventurous group attended Summer School, usually a short time course covering one or more
selected topics, in different parts of the world. Some stayed in Hong Kong, some went to Europe and others
all the way to the US. Here’s a closer look at what particular students did:
Jane Yip went to the London College of Fashion and learnt about marketing, design and other aspects of the
fashion industry.
Matthew Yeung went to Chinese University to attend engineering and mathematics seminars.
Jonathan Seib came back inspired after attending Summer School at Berklee College of Music in Boston.
Chloe Lam who went to UCLA says of her trip, “this experience gave me an insight into college life at an
elite university and it provided me with an opportunity to embark on a fun and amazing experience: taking a
psychology course and a CSI program. In addition, I made a lot of friends from all around the world.”
Sabina Yu went to a Summer School
at HKU and did a course focusing on
English skills.
Kiki Elijandy, who also attended
a program at HKU, says, “During
my 10 days in a program called
‘Summer School of Effective
Leadership’ at HKU, I met a range of
world-class leaders including Sir T.L.
Yang and Mr James Begbie (Director
of Crossroads International).
The AISHK Sports Awards Ceremony, which was held on 9
September at Baptist University, was once again a key event
in the school year. Student sporting achievements in 2011
were exceptional, reflecting a growing number of participants
across all year levels in a range of different individual and
team sports.
Term 3 as always ends with arguably the two high points
on the academic calendar, namely the Valedictorian Dinner
for Year 12 students, their teachers and parents and the
Valedictorian Ceremony which formally marks the graduation
of our most senior students from their education program
here at AISHK. These events are always emotional times for
parents, students and teachers alike and represent significant
“rites of passage” for these members of our community.
The events I have listed above while numerous are still but a
snapshot of the activities that our students engaged in during
these past two terms so it is very easy to see how busy and
productive our educational program at AISHK continues to be.
We look forward to next term with equal enthusiasm.
Phillip Waugh
Co-Head of School, Principal Secondary
4
“The course may be short in duration
but it definitely helped me re-define
what a great global leader should be”.
Careers Talk
30
volunteers from the school community, local
universities and other organisations met with
AISHK Year 10, 11 and 12 students to talk about
careers and give them guidance on planning
their future. A number of selected professionals also spoke to
these students about the responsibilities that come with, and
requirements related to, their respective fields. These guest
speakers were informative and inspirational and gave students
insight into possible career choices and life in the working world.
Students heard from speakers drawn from a wide range of
industries and disciplines including marketing, law, accounting,
diplomatic services, journalism, medicine and psychology.
Year 10 Profile Interviews
D
uring Term 2, Year 10 students worked
hard to develop their career portfolio.
They identified their skills and interests
and wrote a personal statement about
themselves. They did research on a variety of
career options and thought about the career
paths they might follow after they leave school.
Their portfolio was used as the basis for profile
interviews which were conducted with a teacher
and their parents. These interviews were a good
opportunity for students to talk about their skills,
abilities, future plans and make choices about the subjects they wished to study during their
senior years at AISHK.
Year 12
Valedictorian Dinner
& Assembly
On the eve of their farewell to the school, we asked 4 students to share with us their
thoughts on AISHK and their plans for the future:
T
he end of September saw two important events take place for Year 12s
that signaled the beginning of the end of their time at the school. At what
was their penultimate ‘official’ event as AISHK students, Year 12s and
their parents enjoyed an evening of quality time and conversation at the
Valedictorian Dinner, held in the Auditorium before students head off to prepare for
final exams that begin at the start of Term 4.
The second event, the Valedictorian Assembly, which took place on Wednesday
morning, also in the Auditorium, was a very special and emotional moment as Year
12’s gathered for Assembly for the last time. Watched on by their parents, teaching
staff and most of Secondary Division, the students were presented with their
Graduation Certificate by Phillip Waugh and Leonie Drew, heard
from a number of fellow students selected to speak and
listened to a Valedictory Farewell by Mr Waugh.
Student Spotlight
At this important juncture in their
lives, it would be good for students
to take time to think about their
future and the kind of citizens
they want to become, says Phillip
Waugh, AISHK’s Co-Head and
Principal, Secondary Division. “We
hope that our students will take with
them, the high standards, values
and ethics that we try to instill in
them during their time with us, and
go on to become positively engaged
and responsible members of the
global community.”
Luke Ingram selected to join HKYAF’s
production of Spring Awakening
C
ongratulations to Year 10 student Luke Ingram, who has been
selected to be in the cast of Spring Awakening, a large scale
musical production being organised and staged by the Hong Kong
Youth Arts Foundation (YAF) later this year.
Auditions were held in May and over 500 young people auditioned for a
place in the show. Only 35 young performers were chosen and Luke was
one of these.
Once again, congratulations Luke and all the best with the show.
AISHK Students
Reminisce
Hiren Khemlani (Waratah House) - planning to go to the US to
study psychology
What I like about the school is the multi-cultural aspect. I’d never met
any Australians before I came to AISHK so it was a chance to make
friends. The facilities at the school, like the indoor basketball court,
are very convenient. It’s hard to find schools in Hong Kong with these
kinds of facilities.”
Chris Adams (Jacaranda House) – wants to study Public
Relations at the University of New South Wales.
Here the focus is on the individual, not the group. It’s good.
And the approach is more friendly. The international mix
of students means I get to meet people from all over the
world. I feel it’s given me a more global perspective. I like the
sports here and that we have the chance to be coached by
professional sportspeople.”
Alanah Boxhall (Waratah House) – planning to study at the
University of New South Wales
I like that we have more opportunities to meet people from all over
the world and the range of subjects we can study and sports we can
play. One of the best memories for me will be the opportunities I’ve
had for leadership.”
Yong Shi-ying (Wattle House) – wants to pursue International
Studies in Singapore
One of the things I like best about the school is that we get to
travel. Because of ACAMIS and other competitions, we get
to travel to China and elsewhere to play sport. During Activity
Week, we get to choose to go on an adventure trip to France
or a cultural themed trip to Cambodia to help build houses
there. One of my favourite things is that Year 12s get to use
the Common Room!”
AISHK Student wins SCMP Writing Competition
A
ISHK Year 9 student Janessa Chou Hou-wing got busy pursuing her love of writing
during the summer break and received a pleasant surprise when she won SCMP’s
Summer Story Competition. In her winning entry, An Alley Cat and his Unlikely Ally,
Janessa combined her passion for writing and her concern for animal
welfare to weave a tale about the precarious
life of a “cool, alpha-male
cat”in the dark streets
of Sham Shui Po. Well
done Janessa! We
look forward to
reading more
of your
stories in
the future.
Janessa Chou Hou-wing (centre) with writing classmates and Creative Writing teacher Ms Jacqueline Byrne.
5
A RT S
VISUAL ARTS
Year 12 Design & Technology Graduation Show
Y
ear 12 students had the chance to show off
their design and product making skills at the
Year 12 Design & Technology Graduation
Show that was held in late September.
Organised to coincide with the Year 12 Valedictorian
Dinner, the show featured concepts, sketch designs and
finished products created by these talented individuals
studying HSC or IB Design & Technology, at AISHK.
Those who took time out from
attending the Valedictorian
Dinner to view the exhibition
were impressed by the quality
and diversity of ideas and creativity shown by these inventive final year
students, some of whom could well be the next Alessandro Mendini
(Alessi Design) or Steve Jobs (Apple Computer).
S
tudents in Year 12 Design and Technology have worked on
developing solutions to genuine needs. The investigation,
development and manufacture of their design solutions make up
60% of the external assessment mark. The focus of the Major Design
Project is student-directed and this year it has included the use of
timber, plastics, Computer Aided Design and Manufacturing, modelmaking, textiles and digital media technologies. Students
supported their design solutions with extensive portfolios
which detail their journey through the design process.
Shi Ying Yong – “ROLLAWAY”
ROLLAWAY is designed to provide an
alternative to upright, uncomfortable chairs
in a serviced apartment. The main features
of the ROLLAWAY are that it is collapsible,
comfortable and portable.
Nicolee Tsin – “LINK YOUR PAST”
LINK YOUR PAST is a range of accessories
that embody key dates and events in the
lives of users. They are designed to serve
as a keepsake and a narrative of the events
that have shaped the wearer’s life. In the
prototype created for this product line, Nicolee
has drawn from her family history, specifically
the memories of her grandparents, as the
inspiration for her designs.
Catharina Prinsloo – “GLASS – MAKE IT LAST”
Shi Ying Yong
Nicolee Tsin
GLASS - MAKE IT LAST is an environmental
campaign intended to promote recycling in response
to the lack of glass recycling in Hong Kong. The
campaign takes the form of a packaged kit that targets
bar owners and patrons and includes a bin sign that can
be slotted onto waste bins to encourage separation of
glass from other waste and a pull out leaflet that explains
the problems caused by not recycling glass and how
patrons can effect change.
Amy Lau – “LIGHT YOUR LIFE”
Inspired by the desire to improve the décor in her
home and from the individual needs of four family
members, this designer has created LIGHT YOUR
LIFE - a series of lights in the form of magnetic
hexagons that can be arranged into a range of
structures to provide a completely customisable
lighting solution.
Joyce Wan – “PRECIOUS PAPER ANIMATION”
Catharina Prinsloo
Amy Lau
Paper is precious and the way we use and
dispose of it has an impact on our environment.
PRECIOUS PAPER is a stop motion animation
involving over 500 photographs that capture the
designer as she creates a series of paper props.
The images form a narrative that conveys the
importance of recycling paper.
Chester Pang – “SWAP TOP TRAY”
SWAP TOP TRAY was developed in response
to studio apartment living and the need to
optimise space and use household items
that are multi-functional. SWAP TOP
TRAY can be used as a work station, a
game board, a portable meal tray and a
hanging notice board.
Daniel Hanssen – “BOOK NOOK”
Joyce Wan
Chester Pang
Students at AISHK have a lot of materials
that they need to keep with them at all times,
including books and stationery, in the course
of their studies. With the addition of laptop
computers, students may have difficulty
keeping all their books and equipment in
one place. BOOK NOOK is designed to be a
solution to this. BOOK NOOK provides storage
for students’ equipment and can be retrofitted
to existing school desks.
Gigi Wong – “LAPTOP TRAY”
Daniel
Hanssen
6
Laptops are often placed on the lap when they are
being used, however this is not a good position
ergonomically. Further problems are the presence
of heat in close proximity to the body and a
lack of airflow around the unit when used this
way. LAPTOP TRAY is designed to support a
laptop computer in a variety of locations while
improving airflow and the user’s posture.
Gigi Wong
PERFORMING ARTS
Dance Workshops
W
e were thrilled to be able to offer our Year 4 and 5 students the
opportunity to attend several dance workshop days in May. Directed
by Lindsay McAllister from the Hong Kong Youth Arts Foundation
(HKYAF), these workshops proved to be wonderful opportunities
to further explore movement and performance; themes covered in some of the
class inquiry units.
Music Movies & Magic
O
ur music showcase for 2011 focused
on music from the movies. The
Auditorium was transformed into a
cinema and the performances on the
evening were an exploration of the many genres
of movie music The evening featured the school
Orchestra, Primary Choir, a vocal ensemble,
the school Rock Band, Year 12 soloists and the
Year 11 music class. The evening culminated
with the Orchestra playing music as an
accompaniment to a ‘silent’ movie being shown
on screen. The performance indeed made the
movie a cinematic treat.
Primary Recital
T
he school’s younger performing artists got together at the start of
September, to show proud moms and dads just how much they had
progressed in their performing arts studies over the past two terms
during Primary Recital held in Week 5 of Term 3.
The Recital featured a series
of solos and duets by
pianists, violinists, cellists,
drummers and vocalists from
89 students in Primary Division,
all of whom played or sung
their hearts out in front of the
mesmerised audience who
packed the Auditorium.
Drama Night
F
or the first time at AISHK, both primary and secondary division students
were offered drama as an Extra Curricular Activity. Members of these
groups were given the task of preparing a play for the ECA Drama
Evening which was held on 31 May. The group of students from Primary
presented an adaptation of the famous Shakespeare play
‘Romeo and Juliet’, while Secondary Division students
performed ‘A Government Inspector’, a play created by
Russian playwright Nikolay Gogol. All of our performers did
well and developed their acting skills through this experience.
Music Theatre
Workshop
P
erforming Arts
students were
privileged and
pleased to welcome
and play host to musical
theatre performer Dan Koek.
Dan is an Australian who
is establishing a name for
himself in musical theatre in
the UK. On 8 June, Dan led
workshops for each of the
elective music and drama
classes in Years 9, 10, 11
and 12, and presented a
concert for students in Year
6. The workshop was very
worthwhile and a valuable
learning experience for all
students involved.
The over 150
strong crowd
that came was
impressed with the
musicianship and
maturity displayed
by these very
skilled youngsters.
Year 12
Music & Drama Night
A
t the beginning of September, Year 12 Music and Drama students presented
an evening of performing arts.
During the evening practical components of the courses they are taking were
presented, giving parents the chance to enjoy the work students are doing in class
and the students themselves another opportunity to prepare for their performance
examinations.
Performances included a snare solo from Kitty Ho, piano solos from Fiona Chan, a
composition from Gigi Wong, a film by Aidan McCarthy, a monologue from Daniel
Hanssen, and a group production from
Ace Kremmer, Nicole Corkhill, Aidan
McCarthy and Daniel Hanssen.
Projects not able to be presented on
the night, because they had already
been sent to Australia for grading, were
a costume designed by Nicole Corkhill
and a promotion and program designed
and created by Ace Kremmer.
The audience was impressed by the
quality of the practical work presented
on the evening.
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S P O RT S
AISHK's three Touch teams at the All-Schools Championships
All-Schools
I
Touch
n April, over 400 pupils in 42 teams from primary schools across Hong Kong competed in the Hong
Kong All-Schools Touch Championships.
AISHK fielded teams in the Boys A Grade and Girls A and B grades, made up of players from the
school’s Touch Rugby ECA teams.
The tournament was the first time that many students had played competitive Touch so it was a valuable
learning experience for all concerned. The Girls A team contested strongly throughout the day but lost
some very close games and did not make the finals.
Boys A Team. Plate Champions
The Girls B team was the surprise of the tournament. With many inexperienced players in the team, their
expectations for success were not very high but they prevailed over all comers and were undefeated
Champions.
Zac Cossart scores
off a brilliant Sam
Lawson pass.
Lucy Lindsay
scores the matchwinner in the final.
Lucy Lindsay was the top try scorer and received the President’s
Trophy for best player in her division. All players played brilliantly,
not only as individuals but also as a team, which was very pleasing
for coaches Matt Price and Stephen Burrows.
The Boys A Grade team were unlucky to be beaten in a suddendeath extra time in the semi-finals by the eventual winners, but
they did go on to win the Plate Final.
Girls B Team. Undefeated Champions
The team scored a mountain of tries throughout the day with Zac
Cossart leading the way; even scoring a hat-trick in the final. All
members of the team played well and coach Mark Wnek was
pleased with the way players lifted their game to a higher level and
grew as a team throughout the competition.
Early Childhood
Swimming Carnival
SDRC Basketball
T
Tournament
he SDRC U14 Competition held at Utaloy International School in Guangzhou in May
was a sporting success. Once again AISHK students did the school proud with the girls
making it to the final before losing to American International School Guangzhou and the
boys just missing out on making it to the finals.
Victor Lo, Chi Ying Wong, Charlotte Brown and Tara Robinson, who were named in the All Star
team, all deserve a special mention for their outstanding efforts.
A
ll students in Early Childhood (Prep to Year 2) got the opportunity to
display the swimming skills they had learnt in their 6-week school
swim program at the Inter House Swimming Carnival, held at the
school in May.
For many, the carnival is an introduction to competitive swimming, done in
an enjoyable way. House spirit, teamwork and good sportsmanship are all
encouraged at the event.
Students took part in individual races, according to age and ability, but events
at AISHK Swimming Carnivals also include novelty relays which ensure
greater participation and create a fun atmosphere. It was wonderful to see the
tremendous spirit shown by each of the Houses and the excited, happy looks
on students’ faces.
Congratulations to Waratah House who scored the most number of points on
the day.
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Beijing
Brilliance
Rugby Triumphs
I
n early June, 44 rugby players and a large number of parents travelled to
Dulwich College in Beijing to take part in, or support students taking part in, an
invitational rugby tournament. AISHK entered two Under 11 teams in a Rugby
Sevens competition as well as Under 13 and 15 teams, in the tournament.
Young
I
Dragons
n early August, AISHK students Thomas Murphy from Year 9 and Chris Adams from
Year 12 did the school and Australian Rules football in Hong Kong proud when they
played in the Hong Kong Dragons Men’s AFL team at the Asean AFL Championships
in Bangkok.
The AFL championships are contested by teams of mainly expat Australians living in nine
countries around Asia including Malaysia, Indonesia, China and Laos and is a round-robin
competition culminating in a Grand Final between
the top two teams.
All of the teams achieved tremendous success on the field. The Under 11A team
were runners up and the 11B team finished in third place in their age division. The
Under 13s were runners up in the bowl division while the Under 15s were Cup
Champions, defeating West Island School in the final in the last play of the match.
Trained by former Geelong AFL champion
Darren Flanigan, the Hong Kong Dragons
remained undefeated in the competition
until going down narrowly to a very strong
Singapore team in the Grand Final.
All of the students were outstanding representatives for the school, both on and
off the field. This was a superb trip and there was a wonderful sense of community
among students, staff and parents.
Despite giving away both age and
weight advantages to opponents,
the boys played well and were
among their team’s most consistent
performers over the six games
played in hot and sultry conditions.
Secondary
I
Swimming Carnival
n September, students from secondary
division set off to Kowloon Tsai Park
for the inter-house swimming carnival.
Participation was high on this hot and
humid day as a large number of students
took to the water and competed keenly
in an effort to gain maximum points for
their house while being cheered on by
enthusiastic supporters.
Overall, the standard of swimming amongst
many of the age groups was strong and
a total of eight records fell on the day. One of the most impressive performances was by
Ricki Ng, who managed to break five records in events in the U16 Girls Division. Ricki’s
record-breaking feats and those of Ryan Lee and Nathaniel Law, all of whom are from
Wattle House, helped set up a massive winning margin and establish Wattle as the top
house at the carnival. Congratulations to the winners and round of applause to all the
students who participated and showed plenty of enthusiasm and house spirit on the day.
Winning Ways in Netball
I
n June, seven netball teams made up of 70 female students 10-to-16 years’ old
from AISHK, travelled to Beijing for a netball tournament.
At the tournament, AISHK’s teams were outstanding due to the commitment
shown by all of the players. We expected Beijing would be extremely hot and the
competition very stiff and we were not wrong.
The grand finals were very exciting with the entire squad rallying behind the
school’s teams playing on the field. In most cases the games were neck and neck
but AISHK teams finally prevailed and went on to win the finals.
The teams outstanding successes at the tournament can be put down to the
effective training program at AISHK.
Sports Awards
T
Assembly
he Sports Awards Assembly held on 9 September
was the culmination of another year of great
achievements in sport at AISHK, where awards were
given to student athletes who have performed
well in sports competitions outside the school. This year
has seen standout successes in Cross Country,
ACAMIS Netball and U16s Basketball, as well
as in U20s Girls Volleyball, U14 Boys Touch and
U13 C Grade Rugby. As well as the handing out of
awards, the event
also featured great
performances by
the school’s rock
band and members
of the gymnastics
and dance teams
and a keynote
presentation and
speech from guest
speaker Charles
Burke, coach of the
Hong Kong National
Cricket Team.
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C H I N E S E
W E E K
Chinese Week
T
h i s y e a r ’s C h i n e s e We e k w a s
another fun filled week of activities
and events related to Chinese
learning and culture.
The week kicked off with a very special and
extremely popular event, Chinese Shopping
Day, where students from Primary Division
got the chance to be a grown up for the
day and practise their language skills while
buying toys and other novelty items and
taking part in challenging quizzes at specially
set up stalls in the Auditorium. The Auditorium was buzzing with excitement and activity
as these keen shoppers spent their ‘shopping hour’ speaking in Putonghua at the ‘shops’
which were managed by AISHK’s ever helpful Chinese parents.
All through the week there were also lots of Chinese-themed activities held during
Chinese classes and organised by teachers, these included Chinese painting, Chinese
calligraphy, a kick-the-shuttlecock game, making Chinese dragons and Chinese music
workshops.
Activities including lantern making, short video
and chess competitions were held in the lead up
to this period and attracted a lot of enthusiastic
entrants.
The highlight of the week was undoubtedly the
Chinese Week Early Childhood Assembly. Hosted
by the Early Childhood year levels - Preps to Year
2 - the Assembly, held in the Auditorium, featured
many Chinese performances, songs and dances.
Students wore colourful Chinese costumes and
thrilled the many parents who came to watch.
Chinese
Shopping
Day
Early Childhood
Assembly
S
hopping Day was held on Monday, with
31 Putonghua-speaking parents coming
to lend a hand by manning our ‘stalls’
which were soon bustling with eager
shoppers from Primary Division. Popular items for
sale included dancing robots, angry-bird folders
and highlighter pens. As well as the novelty items
and toys for sale, young buyers had the chance
to play traditional Chinese games. Popular games
were the sand bag throwing game and ping-pong
ball challenge, where students had to pick up ping
pong balls using chopsticks. Both parents and
students really enjoyed the Day!
Mooncake Night
A
s a way to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival and
Chinese Week, students enrolled in the Cakes and
Cookie Making ECA course tried their hand at making
mooncakes. This is the first time these young bakers
had tried making these Chinese favourites and as you can
see, they were a huge success! The students loved learning the
cooking method and gained an appreciation of the skills - including
combining the ingredients, measuring, chopping and the deep
concentration – required to make these treats. We’re sure you’ll
agree their finished cakes look amazing!
10
T
he Early Childhood Assembly
featured starring performances
from students in all classes
from Prep to Year 2, who took
to the stage in turns to present a series
of wonderful songs, stories and dance
routines drawn from Chinese culture, all
performed using Putonghua.
Prep C and Prep H were learning
about pets this term, so they chose to
perform a song and a rhyme about fish. The three Year 1 classes did a group
drama “The Hungry Caterpillar”. They finished their performance with a song
about butterflies. After Year 1’s drama, it was Prep V’s turn to present “The
Lovely Bunny”, a story about a group of bunnies who are clever enough not
to open the door to a big bad wolf who comes by one day. This was followed
by our Year 2 classes who presented a poem about the Mid-Autumn Festival,
while another class did a dance called “Ten-minute Break Time”, about the
happy feeling children have when they are taking time out for a snack. The
last performance was a drama, adapted from another traditional Chinese
story, about how a character called Houyi shoots down nine suns and another,
Chang’e, takes a magic potion and flies to the moon.
C O M M U N I T Y
T
he last Friday in August was
undoubtedly one of the biggest
social events in this year’s events
calendar when AISHK hosted “A
Night on Broadway” black tie Ball at the
Grand Hyatt.
The ball, a night of music, song and dance,
featured one of Australia’s best known stage
stars, MiG Ayesa, who has starred in a string of hit stage shows both at
home and internationally, as well as Monique Montez and Nigel TurnerCarroll, two of the country’s premiere performing artists.
Over 350 guests packed the Grand
Hyatt Ballroom and wined and
dined the night away while being
treated to a sumptuous meal and
world class entertainment from
the trio as well as performers from
Primary and Secondary Divisions
and special guest vocalist, recent
AISHK graduate and future stage
star, Allira Wilson.
Later, guests took to the dance
floor to let loose with hits from MiG
and Monique, ably backed by the Andrew Bautista Band. The evening,
held to not only celebrate another school year, but also raise funds
for the school’s very exciting Green
Roof Project, was
definitely a night
to remember.
Mother’s Day Lunch
I
n M a y, 1 2 0
AISHK Mothers
attended the
i n a u g u r a l
Mother’s Day Lunch
at the Holiday Inn
Golden Mile.
The lunch was a wonderful way for AISHK
Mothers to catch up with friends in a
relaxed environment. A delicious threecourse lunch was served to guests, while
entertainment was provided courtesy of
some of our very own AISHK super models
(The Mother’s Day Committee with Sue
Howe and Angela Doherty!).
Everyone was a winner on the
day with our super raffle and
wonderful gift bags provided
by Paul Gerrard and Chicken
On The Run.
A few tears were also shed
after a display of some
beautiful photographs of
AISHK students, kindly put
together by Ann-Marie Brown.
The event was a huge
success and is sure to be a
firm favourite on the Parent
Association annual calendar.
Laughing it up on Father’s Day
F
ather’s Day in Hong Kong
fell in June this year and
to celebrate, AISHK
organised a very special
Father’s Day Breakfast for all those
hardworking dads who do so much
to take care of their families but
can sometimes end up as unsung
heroes in the family.
The breakfast meet up, held on
the Thursday before Father ’s
Day, was an early morning affair.
After accompanying their children
to school, fathers and students
got together in the school’s
Auditorium for a photo taking
session, with any mums on
hand joining in during this wonderful opportunity to take
some family photos. After students went off to class, dads got together for a
buffet breakfast and were treated to an early morning show by UK comedian
Stephen Grant, who delivered
a laughter-filled comedy routine
on the global melting pot, jobs
and a father’s lot in life.
The Father’s Day
Breakfast and the AISHK
2011 Ball, “A Night on
Broadway”, were proudly
sponsored by National
Australia Bank.
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A LU M N I
N E W S
Alumni Reunion
T
his year ’s AISHK Alumni
Event took place in Sydney
in June and was another well
attended reunion of AISHK
students from years past. Over 60
former graduates and parents joined
Co-Head of School Phillip Waugh to
renew friendships and make new ones
while reminiscing about their days at
AISHK at the Cargo Bar in Sydney’s
King Street Wharf. Held in a rotating
roster of East coast cities, the yearly
event offers a great opportunity for
past students and their families to stay
in touch with the school and let us
know what they are achieving in life.
Each year, the school hosts two Alumni reunions, one in Hong
Kong in December and one mid-year at alternating capital cities in
Australia. All former students, staff and friends of the school are
invited to attend and should register via email to development@
aishk.edu.hk.
The objectives of the Alumni Association are to provide:
• a forum to keep the school’s alumni in touch with each other,
unite classmates and share the successes of our alumni with
the current school community.
• Alumni with information on what is happening in the school –
its achievements and developments – thereby promoting the
good name of AISHK at home and abroad.
• a platform for the advancement and promotion of learning
and education at AISHK.
• an opportunity for cultural, sporting, musical, art and
other activities between the alumni, AISHK and other
schools and academic circles around the world.
• support that helps raise the profile of Australian
education in Hong Kong and internationally.
Making an Impact
Melissa Hill
M
elissa Hill, who attended AISHK from 2001 to 2003 (Years 10-12), went straight to
University after completing Year 12, where she studied for her Bachelor of Psychology
and Management/Marketing degree at Monash University in Melbourne. In the last year
of her course, she joined the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) as an Undergraduate and
after graduating, entered Initial Officer Training that included weapons training and instruction on the
principles of war and leadership in both peacetime and wartime. Today she is the Executive Officer of
the RAAF’s Combat Survival Training School.
Melissa shares these thoughts with us on her life today and her years at AISHK:
On her career
“As an Air Combat Officer I am a fighter controller,
similar to an Air Traffic Controller, but in a wartime battle
space,” says Melissa. “I have done two tours of the
Middle East and I am now the Executive Officer of the
Combat Survival Training School where we train Defence
members how to survive a crash in both peacetime and
war situations”.
On AISHK
I would not be where I am today without AISHK. On a
simpler level, controlling aircraft involves a lot of basic
math, but on a more complex level, being a Combat
Here I am in the Control Room in the Middle
Officer requires intelligence and involves a lot of written
East, talking to aircraft flying in Afghanistan.
work. I went through the entire process of joining the
RAAF with the belief that I would definitely get in - why
wouldn't I? My school
years at AISHK not only got me the grades I needed to get into
University, I developed confidence and learnt to believe in myself. It
made me feel like I could do, or be, anything I wanted to be!
Fondest memories of AISHK
My favourite memory of AISHK was the rapport I had with all my
teachers. I still remember them all and how they influenced me in
their own ways. Mr West gave me English advice that no one else
would, Mrs Turnbull pushed me to study harder (thankfully) and Miss
Challender taught me to how to love science even though I wasn't
the best at it...
y also
Christmas Da
This is me on e Middle East.
th
while I was in
On AISHK Alumni
I still keep in touch with a few past students. Of course I am
“Facebook” friends with a lot of them and I still catch up with Tahlia
Benjamin and Pri Natarajan whenever I make it to Melbourne. I
would love to attend an Alumni event, either in Australia or HK. I
live in far north Queensland so everywhere is far away for me.
Jessica Parfitt
J
essica Parfitt was a student at AISHK
from 2000 to 2008. After completing
her secondary education with the
school, she decided to pursue her
interest in design and is now studying for
her bachelor’s degree in design at the
University of New South Wales. Jessica
was the lucky winner of free air travel to the next Alumni event.
Jessica shares these thoughts with us on her life and her years at
AISHK:
On growing up and going to school in Hong Kong
Growing up in Hong Kong was something I feel very privileged to
have been able to do and something I would definitely not change.
I began at AISHK in 2000 and graduated in 2008. The time I spent
at AISHK, I feel, was one that has given me opportunities that
many other kids would not have had.
On AISHK
Having been out of school for a while and studying for my
bachelor’s degree in design at UNSW, I truly believe that my time
spent at AISHK and in Hong Kong has given me an advantage in
the way I view and think about things. Having been able to live in
such a multicultural place, to travel and do so many things that not
many other people get to do, I do feel truly fortunate.
On AISHK Alumni and the future
This year I attended the alumni get together in Sydney. I felt it was
an excellent event and an opportunity to catch up with people that
I hadn’t seen since school and an excellent way of bringing people
back together. I’m still very close to some of my friends from
AISHK and see them regularly. Although there is still a year to go
at university, and a few more years in Sydney, I definitely know I
will be back living in Hong Kong, after all it is my home.
This is a textile design I created to be used in clothing design
Thanks to our Sponsors
AISHK’s Alumni Reunion
is proudly sponsored by
T
he school would like to thank
Virgin Atlantic for its kind
sponsorship of our alumni reunion
and congratulations to Jessica
Parfitt, winner of our lucky draw, who
will get to fly free to next year’s event
to be held in Brisbane.
Australian International School Hong Kong 3A Norfolk Road, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong | Telephone +852 2304 6078 | Website www.aishk.edu.hk | Editor Alex Gibbs | Email [email protected]
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